Ball Game Apparatus and Method of Play

ABSTRACT

A portable ball game apparatus and method of play is disclosed. It has a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence and the court surface has a radius r with the fence having a height h measured above the court surface. The court surface is generally planar and is substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings and an optional structure is provided that supports the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to games of sport with a bouncing ball; more particularly, it relates to method of play and a game apparatus for a competitive ball bouncing game employing a bounce court surrounded on all sides by a low fence.

BACKGROUND

From within the larger world of ball games and ball bouncing games, particular ball bouncing games are known to involve getting a bouncing ball over a net, into a defined playing court and past an opponent. Examples of such games include volley ball as well as both tennis and its smaller table version, Ping Pong. The playing court in such games has a center net; it is not surrounded by a net.

In a more particular such game the playing court is entirely surrounded by a relatively tall netting which must be gotten over twice—once on the way in, and once on the way out. See Tilley U.S. Pat. No. 2,607,591. Tilley discloses a relatively tall net surrounding a polygonally shaped court, with the object of getting the ball first into the court and then out of it, without the net catching and keeping the ball in the court. In the Tilley game, the players stand outside the court and on a playing level that is generally the same surface (extended) as the court, or that is the same general height as the surface of the court. The nature of the court and its tall netting present significant limitations to play strategy and play dynamics.

What is needed is a fence or rail enclosed rebound play court that is quite portable, the height of whose court is significantly elevated above the player standing surface, with a deflecting fence or rail rather than a net, the fence being of relatively low height, unlike Tilley, compared to the radius of the court, all to thus enhance variations in bounce play strategy and to greatly increase the dynamics of play.

DISCLOSURE

Such a fence or rail enclosed rebound play court is disclosed. It is relatively small and portable (in some cases, as small as 35-40 cm in diameter), and in some embodiments, the height of the court is significantly elevated above the player standing surface. The court is substantially surrounded by a deflecting fence or rail (preferably not a net or net-like material) and the fence is relatively low in height. The fence or rail advantageously completely surrounds the court surface which is desirably made of some relatively hard but relatively light substance such as wood or a reinforced injection plastic.

In one embodiment, a small portable ball game apparatus includes a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence, and the court surface has radius r and the fence has height h measured above the court surface. The fence has relatively hard inner and outer deflecting surfaces and fence height h is relatively small compared to radius r. The ratio of fence height h to court radius r is desirably in the range 22% to 40% and advantageously 32%. Fence height h is desirably in the range of 40-85 mm, and in sub-ranges of 40-55 mm, 55-65 mm and 65-89 mm, and advantageously 60 mm

The court surface is desirably planar and is substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings. It is generally uniform in feature, the planar surface substantially unbroken, and containing no significant fenestrations. A structure supporting the court surface is advantageously provided, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface. Height hs is desirably in the range of 40-60 cm, and advantageously 50 cm.

In some embodiments the court surface overhangs an outermost member of the support structure (such as just below the court surface) by a radially measured playing clearance c, and playing clearance c is maintained beneath the court surface to a vertical depth d. This playing clearance c is desirably in the range of 50-100 mm, and vertical depth d in the range of at least 150-200 mm Advantageously, playing clearance c is 75 mm, and vertical depth d is 175 mm

A game playing method of directing a bouncing ball past an opponent is also disclosed. The game includes the steps of standing on a playing surface area that is lower than the court surface, with the court surface generally centrally located within the playing surface area, and where the court surface is surrounded on all sides by a low fence. Another step is directing the ball over the low fence, such as by throwing or hitting it, to bounce onto the court surface only once in such a way as to get the ball back over the fence on an opponents side of the court without striking and being deflected by either of the fence deflecting surfaces, and thereafter traveling at a height above the playing surface that does not exceed the height of the opponent as the ball leaves an outer boundary of the playing surface. In this method, the court surface is advantageously elevated above the playing surface by a support structure.

An alternate method of playing the game includes the steps of providing a game apparatus having a bouncing ball and a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence. The court surface has a radius r and the fence having a height h measured above the court surface. The court surface is generally planar and substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings, and advantageously has a structure supporting the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface. Another step is standing on the playing surface and directing the ball over the low fence in like manner as the first disclosed method above.

Further game playing variations are disclosed. It is encouraged for players to move and allow themselves freedom of movement around the entire periphery of the court surface. During a typical match, a player directed ball will bounce off the court surface at angles heading away from the opponent. Indeed, like many games, it is an tactical element of the game to direct the ball to where the opponent is not standing. Thus, it is actually possible for players to effectively “switch sides” as they move continuously to receive the directed ball. There being no center net or fence, there are no fixed ‘sides’ for playing opponents to occupy and defend.

It is also permitted, optionally, in the game version where the ball is struck or hit to travel back to the court surface (as differentiated from the ‘throw-and-catch’ version of the game) for a player to bounce the incoming ball once off her hands (in a manner similar to a volley ball pass or self-pass), before striking it back toward the court surface, the better to gain a positional advantage for the return strike. The player may thus elect to immediately strike the ball back toward the court surface or to bounce the ball to herself once.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the game apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the game apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the game apparatus in play.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, the disclosed apparatus will be described by reference to the numerals of the drawing figures wherein like numbers indicate like parts.

In FIG. 1, game apparatus 10 has support structure or base 40, court surface 30 and low fence 20. Game apparatus 10 desirably stands on playing surface 50 to elevate court surface 30 above playing surface 50 by a height hs. Fence 20 has a height h above court surface 30. An upper part of base 40 is outermost member 42 which is inset radially from the outer edge of court surface 30 by a playing clearance c. Member 42 does not extend into clearance c for at least a vertical depth d measured from below court surface 30.

In FIG. 2, in addition to other structures and parts of game apparatus 10, generally circular court surface 30 has radius r from center of surface 30 to inner deflecting surface 22 of fence 20. Fence 20 also has outer deflecting surface 24.

In FIG. 3, a first player 100 propels ball b to travel toward game apparatus 10 generally along the path indicated by the dotted line and arrows, first striking court surface 30 and rebounding upwards generally in the direction of a second player 200. The ball may be propelled by throwing it or striking it, with striking particularly desirable. Both players stand upon playing surface 50 which is bounded by boundary B located a selectable distance away from apparatus 10. Player 200 attempts to intercept ball b along its rebound path and if successful returns ball b in the general direction of player 100 either by catching and throwing ball b, or by striking ball b so as to return it (again with sriking particularly desirable), or the like play, again along a path that includes striking court surface 30 without getting deflected by fence 20. A desirable optional aspect of play to enhance required skills is that ball b may not exit boundary B at a height above playing surface 50 that is greater than the height of the opposing player (see e.g. at player 200 where ball b is depicted crossing boundary B at a game legal height; in other words lower than the height of player 200).

Game apparatus 10 has support structure or base 40, court surface 30 and low fence 20. Game apparatus 10 stands on playing surface 50 to elevate court surface 30 above playing surface 50 by a height hs. Fence 20 has a height h above court surface 30. An upper part of base 40 is outermost member 42 which is inset radially from the outer edge of court surface 30 by a playing clearance c. Member 42 does not extend into clearance space c for at least a vertical depth d measured from below court surface 30. Clearance space c and vertical depth d create in effect an amount of overhang by court surface 30 relative to support structure 40 that is believed to be advantageous for avoiding hand injuries and for allowing for recovering shots or catches when ball b is falling below the height of court surface 30.

With regard to systems and components above referred to, but not otherwise specified or described in detail herein, the workings and specifications of such systems and components and the manner in which they may be made or assembled or used, both cooperatively with each other and with the other elements of the invention described herein to effect the purposes herein disclosed, are all believed to be well within the knowledge of those skilled in the art. No concerted attempt to repeat here what is generally known to the artisan has therefore been made.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents. 

I claim:
 1. A portable ball game apparatus comprising a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence, the court surface having a radius r and the fence having a height h measured above the court surface.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the court surface is generally planar and is substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a structure supporting the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the support structure further comprises an outermost member immediately below the court surface, and the court surface overhangs the support structure outermost member by a radially measured playing clearance c, and playing clearance c is maintained beneath the court surface to a vertical depth d.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein playing clearance c is in the range of 50-100 mm, and vertical depth d is in the range of at least 150-200 mm
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein height hs is in the range of 40-60 cm.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein height hs is 50 cm.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fence completely surrounds the court surface.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the court surface is relatively hard.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fence comprises relatively hard inner and outer deflecting surfaces and fence height h is relatively small compared to radius r.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a ratio of fence height h to court radius r is in the range 22% to 40%.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 where the ratio h/r is substantially 32%.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein fence height h is in the range of 40-85 mm
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein fence height h is 60 mm
 15. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein playing clearance c is 75 mm, and vertical depth d is 175 mm
 16. A method of directing a bouncing ball past an opponent, the method comprising the steps of: standing on an area of playing surface that is lower than a court surface located within the playing surface area, the court surface surrounded on all sides by a low fence; directing the ball over the low fence to bounce onto the court surface only once in such a way as to get the ball back over the fence on an opponents side of the court and thereafter traveling at a height above the playing surface that does not exceed the height of the opponent as the ball leaves the playing surface.
 17. The method of claim 16 where the court surface is elevated above the playing surface by a support structure.
 18. The method of claim 16 wherein the court surface is generally circular and has a radius r, and the surrounding fence extends to a height h above the court surface.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein fence height h is in the range of 40-85 mm
 20. A method of playing a game, the method comprising the steps of: providing a game apparatus having a bouncing ball and a generally horizontal, generally circular court surface peripherally surrounded by a low fence, the court surface having a radius r and the fence having a height h measured above the court surface, the court surface generally planar and substantially unbroken by irregularities or openings, and further having a structure supporting the court surface, such that the court surface is at a height hs above a player standing surface; and standing on the playing surface and directing the ball over the low fence to bounce onto the court surface only once in such a way as to get the ball back over the fence on an opponents side of the court and thereafter traveling at a height above the playing surface that does not exceed the height of the opponent as the ball leaves the playing surface. 